# Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics in Malaysia

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted and affected the political system of Malaysia, causing suspensions of legislative activities and isolation of multiple politicians due to fears of spreading the virus. The onset of the pandemic coincided with a political crisis in early 2020 which continued into 2021 as the spread of COVID-19 and emergency government measures exacerbated initially unrelated political instability, culminating in the resignation of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and his cabinet in August 2021. Numerous elections have been postponed or suspended after the 2020 Sabah state election was blamed for a major outbreak in the state that led to the country's third wave. Several politicians have tested positive for COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021.

## General election and government formation

A political crisis in Malaysia coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. The Pakatan Harapan coalition government collapsed, leading to the resignation of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and eventual replacement with Muhyiddin Yassin and a new Perikatan Nasional coalition, which maintained a small majority. Prime Minister Muhyiddin blamed the 2020 Sabah state election for a substantial increase in COVID-19 cases across the state and country.
In June 2021, the rulers of Malaysia declared that there is no need to extend a state of emergency after 1 August, and parliament should be reopened as soon as possible. The emergency has led to the suspension of all federal parliament and state assembly sittings and also by-elections, among other things, therefore by-elections will need to proceed after 1 August in Sarawak (assembly), Batu Sapi (federal seat), Gerik (federal seat), Bugaya (Sabah state seat) and Melor (Kelantan state seat).

## Restriction announcements

A large outbreak at a Tablighi Jamaat religious event and the spread of the virus across the country were thought to have been exacerbated by the political instability, with the new Health Minister, Adham Baba criticizing his predecessor Dzulkefly Ahmad, although there was no clear government responsible at the time. Shortly after a thin government majority was established, the new government announced the nationwide Movement Control Order (MCO) to curb the spread of the virus.
Amid ongoing political instability, Yang di-Pertuan Agong warned politicians in May 2020 that he "would like to advise against dragging the country once again into a political mess that brings uncertainties" given the ongoing health crisis in the country. In January 2021, a State of Emergency was declared, suspending all elections and parliament, and the government were empowered to pass laws without oversight in response to the pandemic and ongoing political instability. This led to the resignation of MP Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub from the party, resulting in the loss of the government's required majority of at least 111 MPs in the Dewan Rakyat. Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim criticised the declaration, saying this was an effort for the government to maintain power and that 115 other MPs were against it.

## Instances of isolation and testing

On 17 March 2020, Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen (Bandar Kuching member of parliament) tested positive for COVID-19 and was quarantined at Sarawak General Hospital. He was suspected of having been infected with the virus after meeting Sarikei MP Wong Ling Biu who also tested positive for the virus. He was announced to have recovered on 23 March 2020. Another MP which is Chong Chieng Jen (Stampin member of parliament) tested negative.

## List of assemblymen who tested positive for COVID-19
### Dewan Negara (Senators)

Dewan Negara
| State/Appointed | Member | Party | Confirmed Date |
| Appointed | Ahmad Masrizal Muhammad | UMNO | 3 October 2020 (2020-10-03) |
| Appointed | Idris Ahmad | PAS | 16 January 2021 (2021-01-16) |
| Appointed | Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri | IND | 5 October 2020 (2020-10-05) |

### Dewan Rakyat (Members of Parliament)

Dewan Rakyat
| State | No. | Parliament Constituency | Member | Party | Party | Confirmed Date |
| Perlis | P001 | Padang Besar | Zahidi Zainul Abidin | | UMNO | 13 January 2021 (2021-1-13) |
| Kelantan | P030 | Jeli | Mustapa Mohamed | | BERSATU | 10 January 2021 (2021-01-10) |
| Kelantan | P032 | Gua Musang | Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah | | UMNO | 14 January 2021 (2021-01-14) |
| Penang | P047 | Nibong Tebal | Mansor Othman | | BERSATU | 25 July 2021 (2021-07-25) |
| Perak | P056 | Larut | Hamzah Zainudin | | BERSATU | 12 January 2021 (2021-01-12) |
| Perak | P061 | Padang Rengas | Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz | | UMNO | 18 January 2021 (2021-01-18) |
| Perak | P073 | Pasir Salak | Tajuddin Abdul Rahman | | UMNO | 20 January 2021 (2021-01-20) |
| Perak | P075 | Bagan Datuk | Ahmad Zahid Hamidi | | UMNO | 25 July 2021 (2021-07-25) |
| Pahang | P082 | Indera Mahkota | Saifuddin Abdullah | | BERSATU | 28 April 2021 (2021-04-28) |
| Kuala Lumpur | P119 | Titiwangsa | Rina Mohd. Harun | | BERSATU | 11 January 2021 (2021-01-11) |
| Johor | P156 | Kota Tinggi | Halimah Mohd. Sadique | | UMNO | 19 January 2021 (2021-01-19) |
| Sabah | P180 | Keningau | Jeffrey Gapari Kitingan | | STAR | 4 January 2021 (2021-01-04) |
| Sarawak | P194 | Petra Jaya | Fadillah Yusof | | PBB | 11 June 2021 (2021-06-11) |
| Sarawak | P197 | Kota Samarahan | Rubiah Wang | | PBB | 4 April 2020 (2020-04-04) |
| Sarawak | P195 | Bandar Kuching | Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen | | DAP | 17 March 2020 (2020-03-17) |
| Sarawak | P208 | Sarikei | Wong Ling Biu | | DAP | 17 March 2020 (2020-03-17) |
| Sarawak | P211 | Lanang | Alice Lau Kiong Yieng | | DAP | 27 May 2021 (2021-05-27) |
| Total | Perlis (1), Kelantan (2), Perak (3), Pahang (1), F.T. Kuala Lumpur (1), Johor (1), Sabah (1), Sarawak (5) | Perlis (1), Kelantan (2), Perak (3), Pahang (1), F.T. Kuala Lumpur (1), Johor (1), Sabah (1), Sarawak (5) | Perlis (1), Kelantan (2), Perak (3), Pahang (1), F.T. Kuala Lumpur (1), Johor (1), Sabah (1), Sarawak (5) | Perlis (1), Kelantan (2), Perak (3), Pahang (1), F.T. Kuala Lumpur (1), Johor (1), Sabah (1), Sarawak (5) | Perlis (1), Kelantan (2), Perak (3), Pahang (1), F.T. Kuala Lumpur (1), Johor (1), Sabah (1), Sarawak (5) | Perlis (1), Kelantan (2), Perak (3), Pahang (1), F.T. Kuala Lumpur (1), Johor (1), Sabah (1), Sarawak (5) |

### Dewan Undangan Negeri (Malaysian State Assembly Representatives)

| State | No. | Parliamentary Constituency | No. | State Assembly Constituency | Member | Party | Party |
| Perlis | P02 | Kangar | N8 | Indera Kayangan | Gan Ay Ling | | PKR |
| Kedah | P17 | Padang Serai | N34 | Lunas | Azman Nasruddin | | BERSATU |
| Kelantan | P30 | Jeli | N37 | Air Lanas | Mustapa Mohamed | | BERSATU |
| Kelantan | P32 | Gua Musang | N43 | Nenggiri | Ab. Aziz Yusoff | | UMNO |
| Kelantan | P32 | Gua Musang | N45 | Galas | Mohd. Syahbuddin Hashim | | UMNO |
| Terengganu | P40 | Kemaman | N30 | Kijal | Ahmad Said | | UMNO |
| Pahang | P81 | Jerantut | N9 | Tahan | Mohd Zakhwan Ahmad Badarddin | | PAS |
| Pahang | P89 | Bentong | N35 | Sabai | Kamache Doray Rajoo | | DAP |
| Selangor | P97 | Selayang | N14 | Rawang | Chua Wei Kiat | | PKR |
| Selangor | P105 | Petaling Jaya | N33 | Taman Medan | Syamsul Firdaus Mohamed Supri | | PKR |
| Selangor | P106 | Damansara | N35 | Kampung Tunku | Lim Yi Wei | | DAP |
| Selangor | P107 | Sungai Buloh | N39 | Kota Damansara | Shatiri Mansor | | PKR |
| Selangor | P113 | Sepang | N55 | Dengkil | Adhif Syan Abdullah | | BERSATU |
| Negeri Sembilan | P132 | Port Dickson | N33 | Sri Tanjong | Ravi Munasamy | | PKR |
| Malacca | P134 | Masjid Tanah | N3 | Ayer Limau | Amiruddin Yusop | | UMNO |
| Johor | P142 | Labis | N5 | Tenang | Mohd. Solihan Badri | | BERSATU |
| Johor | P146 | Muar | N15 | Maharani | Nor Hayati Bachok | | AMANAH |
| Johor | P149 | Sri Gading | N21 | Parit Yaani | Amunolhuda Hassan | | AMANAH |
| Johor | P153 | Sembrong | N30 | Paloh | Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali | | DAP |
| Sabah | P168 | Kota Marudu | N07 | Tandek | Hendrus Anding | | PBS |
| Sabah | P170 | Tuaran | N12 | Sulaman | Hajiji Mohd Nor | | BERSATU |
| Sabah | P180 | Keningau | N39 | Tambunan | Jeffrey Kitingan | | STAR |
| Sabah | P180 | Keningau | N40 | Bingkor | Robert Tawik | | STAR |
| Sabah | P188 | Lahad Datu | N63 | Kunak | Norazlinah Arif | | WARISAN |
| Sarawak | P198 | Puncak Borneo | N19 | Mambong | Jerip Susil | | PBB |
| Total | | | Perlis (1), Kedah (1), Kelantan (3), Terengganu (1), Pahang (2), Selangor (5), Negeri Sembilan (1), Malacca (1), Johor (4), Sabah (5), Sarawak (1) | Perlis (1), Kedah (1), Kelantan (3), Terengganu (1), Pahang (2), Selangor (5), Negeri Sembilan (1), Malacca (1), Johor (4), Sabah (5), Sarawak (1) | Perlis (1), Kedah (1), Kelantan (3), Terengganu (1), Pahang (2), Selangor (5), Negeri Sembilan (1), Malacca (1), Johor (4), Sabah (5), Sarawak (1) | Perlis (1), Kedah (1), Kelantan (3), Terengganu (1), Pahang (2), Selangor (5), Negeri Sembilan (1), Malacca (1), Johor (4), Sabah (5), Sarawak (1) | Perlis (1), Kedah (1), Kelantan (3), Terengganu (1), Pahang (2), Selangor (5), Negeri Sembilan (1), Malacca (1), Johor (4), Sabah (5), Sarawak (1) |